Gomez rallies voters in Southbridge

Sunday

Jun 16, 2013 at 6:00 AMJun 16, 2013 at 7:33 AM

By James F. Russell CORRESPONDENT

Expressing bold independence from the national party, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez criticized President Barack Obama on social programs and immigration reform during a spirited campaign stop that included several Latino children among the spectators.

Mr. Gomez said Obama promised immigration reform as a candidate in 2008 but has not delivered.

The Senate candidate said, “Obama has broken up more families” with deportation orders than the previous Bush administration. The Washington Post reported in August that the administration had deported 1.4 million people — a rate 1.5 times higher than under President Bush.

“You’ve got to give certainty to the pathway to citizenship,” Mr. Gomez said, adding: “it’s going to be a lengthy path” to become a U.S. citizen.

“This is not just an issue for the Latino community; it affects the whole country,” he said. “I know the Republican party has not been receptive to immigration reform. This is one of the more difficult problems we have. The reality is, there has to be a solution.”

Mr. Gomez said the social safety net that includes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is at risk unless steps are taken right away to ensure they are funded for future generations.

“We need to make Medicare and Social Security stronger,” he said. It may not be around if Congress and the president do not take action right now, he said.

The underdog candidate appeared relaxed, his athletic and trim frame comfortably fitting in a white polo shirt, a light tan pair of casual slacks and bright aquamarine sneakers. He made several references to his nine-year military career that included earning the distinction of being a Navy SEAL.

Mr. Gomez’s criticisms of President Obama were polite. His statements about U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Malden, his opponent for the U.S. Senate seat, though occasionally laced with biting humor, maintained decorum.

Noting that first lady Michelle Obama, the president, the democratic national chairman and former president Bill Clinton came to Massachusetts to support Mr. Markey — and that Vice President Joe Biden may also come to the state, the Republican candidate said they came “to prop him (Mr. Markey) up.”

“I think Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are next,” he said to raucous laughter.

After finishing his speech, Mr. Gomez spoke with reporters. He was asked whether national Republican leaders such as House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky would be stumping with him in the final days before the June 25 special election.

Mr. Gomez said he did not want them showing up, that the campaign is about the people of Massachusetts and that if elected, he would deal with the republican leadership while in Washington, D.C.

The candidate, who supports President Obama’s recent public announcement to directly provide groups seeking to overthrow the Syrian government with weapons, was asked about the legal justification to help overthrow a sovereign state that poses no threat to the U.S.

“We are helping one of the rebel groups there. They are fighting the war,” Mr. Gomez said.

He also supports unilateral U.S. action if the United Nations does not authorize the use of force.

“I think there should be a no-fly zone in Syria,” Mr. Gomez said.

Former Worcester City Councilor Juan Gomez introduced Mr. Gomez. State Rep. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, attended along with 60 onlookers, supporters and patrons of Mill Street Brews, where the campaign stop took place.

Mr. Gomez launched a series of town hall meetings across the state Friday. The event here was officially called a “Latino Town Hall Meeting in Southbridge.” It was followed by door-to-door campaigning along Hamilton Street, where Mr. Gomez was escorted by Southbridge City Council candidate Esteban Carrasco Jr.

Parelys Torres, along with the many family and friends on her front porch at 380 Hamilton St., were all smiles as the candidates made their pitch.

She said Mr. Gomez’s candidacy and Mr. Carrasco’s are “a very good idea. Hopefully we’ll do something different” if they are elected, she said.